Bangladesh-Japan trade volume to reach $ 4b in 3-4 years: Tofail
Japan-Bangladesh goodwill mascot-Bantora Kun-unveiled
Terming Japan as the most trusted partner of Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said the current volume of Bangladesh-Japan trade relationship is $2.5 billion and it will become $4 billion in 3-4 years.
The minister was speaking at the launching ceremony of Bantora Kun- a mascot to work as a Japan-Bangladesh goodwill ambassador- organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) at a city hotel.
The commerce minister said export to Japan from Bangladesh will be increased up to $2 billion from the current $900 million within the next three to four years as he expects that RMG and leather goods exports to Japan will grow significantly in coming years.
The minister invited Japan to invest more in Bangladesh saying that Bangladesh is no longer a bottom less basket. Organisations like World Bank, Price-Waterhouse Cooper, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase have termed Bangladesh a country with great prospect. Bangladesh is now a great destination for foreign investors, he said.
He said that the recent launching of mascot Bantora Kun is a proof of Japanese friendship with Bangladesh. Bangladesh didnt do it rather Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka took the initiative of branding Bangladesh in Japan through launching this. It proves how good a friend Japan is to Bangladesh.
Masato Watanabe, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, said that Bantora Kun-the new mascot or Yuru Chara which is a Japanese term for category of mascot characters-to increase brand equity of Bangladesh and her product in Japan. It will also be used to gain awareness of Japanese products and culture in Bangladesh, he said.
Yuru-Chara or this type of mascot is characterized by their Kawaii (cute) and unsophisticated design, often incorporating motifs that represent local culture, history or products. These mascots are a goodwill ambassador in trade relations and are said to have economic value. Kunamon-one of the most famous Yuru-Chara of Japan had a fiscal economic effect of Tk 34 billion in 2014 fiscal.
Bantora Kun, the Yuru Chara for promoting friendship and business between Japan and Bangladesh is designed by Bangladeshi folk artist Nazir Hossain who is famous for his tiger paintings. Bantora kun means Bengal Tiger.
